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Knoop-Mann Special honors armed forces at Pikes Peak Hill Climb

August 9, 2012

The Knoop-Mann Special will honor armed forces at the 2012 Pikes Peak Hill Climb.

Veteran road racer Rick Knoop will run the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in the Knoop-Mann Special on Aug. 12. Knoop, a World Endurance champion, and Busby Racing developed the Knoop-Mann Special from a 1958 Jaguar Lister frame.

The car was built as a tribute to Knoop's father, Fred Knoop, who built and raced the Knoop-Huffaker Special in the late 1950s.

With the recent death of team owner and co-driver Julian Mann's father-in-law, Tom Carruthers, who was a Marine during World War II, Knoop and Mann have announced the car will pay tribute to Marines and all U.S. service personnel.

Thus, the Knoop-Mann Special is painted Navy blue and has a large Navy logo and Tom Carruthers' name. A Chevrolet Stroker V8 will power the car, producing more than 800 hp.

“It's a great honor to be invited to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this year,” said Knoop in a release. “Our team is proud to pay tribute to all U.S. service personnel throughout history. We want people to cheer on the Knoop-Mann Special as it tackles the hill and remember the heroes who dedicated their lives to protecting our country and freedom.”

Wes Raynal
- Wes Raynal joined Crain Communications’ circulation department while still in college. When he graduated in 1986, he became a reporter for Autoweek sister publication Automotive News. He has worked as Autoweek’s associate editor, news editor, motorsports editor and executive editor before being named editor in 2009.
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